Splashtop and Screencasting with the SMARTBoard

Woah!  That title is a mouthful!  My school district provided me with the most simple version (yet) of Splashtop as a "Welcome Back to 2013" present.  It is simple, because there is no configuring IP Addresses (what does that even mean!?).  Just being on the same network, allows for instant device, screen share.  Okay, not that exciting yet?  It will get better (maybe).

Today, being a new year and having to have mutliple resolutions, I began thinking of a few for myself.  One being that I wanted to begin using MORE technology in the classroom as seamless ways to engage learning and facilitating.  This afternoon, it sort of happened, as a result of a student asking for help on her math.

In math, Mrs. Olson and I have been attempting our own version of "Daily 5 Math" (a term I use really loosely), except we have three daily's and not much choice.  Someday, maybe our math class can function just like a normal Daily 5 literacy block...not yet.  We are making it up as we go.  

Anyway, I decided to use "Splashtop" during Math today, because in my review, I wanted to stand behind my students, while modeling how to convert mixed numbers to improper fractions and the opposite.  I have not found a totally useful way, other that show and tell, for students to use Splashtop.  Right now, it is more for me to be up moving and facilitating.  Moving on, one of my students asked for a copy of what I was putting onto the SMARTBoard to study for our upcoming test.

"OF COURSE YOU MAY!" Then it clicked to me.  I could screencast myself while manipulating the SMARTBoard, now that Splashtop was working.  So, I told my student that I could provide her with notes and one better...a recording of me re-teaching the concept.  After school today, I plugged in my headphone/microphone combo (I feel like an airplane pilot when I wear those things), set up my SMARTBoard, and kept my fingers crossed that Screencast-O-Matic (my screencasting website of choice) would work.  In the past, my computer would not download the most up to date java applet....IT DID TODAY (Happy New Year x 2)!

So, to my student, I am excited (and feel sort of nerdy) to present to you "How to Convert Mixed Numbers into Improper Fractions AND Concert Improper Fractions into Mixed Numbers".  Enjoy:

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

This past week has reminded many of us how infectious the holiday spirit can be.  While some fret the "holiday week," for various reasons, we embrace the opportunity to provide meaningful learning to our students.  Yes our room was giddy with excitement for the upcoming days, but that giddiness is why so many educators (including myself) went into teaching in the first place.  This week was all about completing tasks, teamwork, and having fun.  I think we accomplished all of that and more.

Our first blizzard of this winter also blanketed our area with nearly a foot of snow, which only added to the holiday buzz around our school today as students sang at the Winter Sing Along, which was supposed to be yesterday.

If listening to children sing holiday songs, with hopes and dreams attached to each, does not get you excited for the holidays, I am not sure what will.  Great job this afternoon!

 

Enjoy the time off with your families, as both Mrs. Olson and I (Mr. Hendricks) also intend to do. See you in 2013!

**The above digital card was made with Wordle.net and PowerPoint.**

Why we like True Flix...

Below is a group of students explaining why they enjoy using True Flix in our classroom:

Snowstorm Brianna is brewing up.  As we prepare for our first large winter storm and/or blizzard, we would like to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Holiday and New Year!

~Mr. Hendricks and Mrs. Olson

Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem Debate

Today our fifth graders took part in a class debate, which we have spent weeks preparing for.  The debate was on the topic of solutions to cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Area.  Leading up to the debate our students studied the effects of various groups of people on the watershed: waterman, recreational boaters, dairy farmers, land developers, and ordinary citizens.  Each group had to determine one major way they contribute to the pollution problem of the bay, along with three solutions, the pros and cons of the solutions, and lastly trade-offs they would make with other groups in order to clean up the bay.

Yesterday groups presented their findings.  While listening, the viewing groups had to take careful notes on what they heard.  Many students took note of items they wanted to further discuss/debate.  This morning, when our students arrived, we transformed our room into a "community hall."  As you can see in the picture, groups had designated areas, where they could easily see and listen to each other.

The debate went so well that an hour and a half into it, students were floored that they had debated so long, and upset to take a snack and bathroom break.  When returning, they began firing away at each other, once again.  We ended up debating this morning, staying on topic, from 7:45 to 10:45 (with a 15 minute break).  Talk about stamina!  These kids love a good debate!

Following the debate, students "voted" on the trade-offs we chose.  We used a Google Form, which works much the same as a Survey Monkey.  We are in the process of counting up all of the votes, but at first glance, it appears as though all of our trade-offs passed unanimously.

Great day in the classroom.  Excellent "hands-on" learning experience for all!  

...AND THE RESULTS ARE IN:

(Screencast created with Screenr: www.screenr.com)

We used a Google Form to gather "votes" after our debate.  Below is the form we used:

Students Teaching Students

In one of our L.E.A.P. classes we recently read about and discussed, in our Scholastic News, whether or not students should have homework.  In my (Mr. Hendricks) L.E.A.P. class, we then wrote a short 12323234 paragraph stating which side we take, along with three additional details.  This took a neat turn when we fired up our netbooks.

In my L.E.A.P. class, half the students are from my homeroom, and the others are from various other fifth grade classrooms.  Because of time restraints, I asked my homeroom students to partner up with the other students to lead them through turning on the netbooks, signing into their school Google accounts, checking their emails from me (which included one shared example Doc and one shared template Doc), opening both, copying the template, and giving it a title.

If you did not realize it, above were several steps, which in a small time span, can make class stressful.  That said, my homeroom students taking the lead created a VERY low stress learning environment.  Rather than me running back and forth in my room helping one student and then another, my students did the work.  THEY LOVED IT and did a great job.

By my students taking the lead, we completed what I have experienced to take easily 45 minutes on my own, in 15 minutes.  With the remaining time, our class was able to spend time reviewing and learning how to write a 12323234 paragraph.  Students easily finished and created easy to read paragraphs in just a little over one class period...largely because of my student helpers!

Great job students!